PWD B’da rolls out ambitious plan towards professionalism

In a first of its kind in the history of the 64 years old club, the new management of PWD of Bamenda under the guide of Abunde Pascal has set out a number of lofty targets and projects this football season in a bid to create a truly professional club worthy of the name PWD.

Speaking at a press conference this afternoon at the Ideal Park Hotel Bamenda, the team’s president said the club has budgeted the sum of 78 million FCFA in an attempt to win promotion into the country’s top flight league.

He also announced that the team is trying to secure partners and sponsors and is already into negotiations with many local and national companies.

PWD, he added, is in line to set up a youth team by April this year to ensure a relay of talent from the youth academy into the first team and to actively engage youths into football.

PWD Bamenda has also set up a management committee in charge of running the day to day activities of the team.

PWD has also secured modern sporting equipment for the players from track suits and sneakers to suits while an elaborate payment scheme for the players has been put in place.

So far the team announced it has engaged partners like Blue Pearle Hotel, Kendely Construction, CRTV, Canal2, 33 Export, Yellow Pages, Bocom Petroleum, Njang Night Club, Bamenda City Council and CamCCUL on a tentative base, while they are also on the hunt for a major shirt sponsor.

A congress of the team has also been announced for Thursday, February 4, 2015, at the Bamenda Congress Hall to be chaired by the governor of the Region Lele Adolph Lafrique. Mr. Abunde announced that the team players ill be formerly introduced to the public during the congress which begins as from 3 pm.

Meanwhile, the team started preparation ahead of the new season since December 28, 2015, and of the 24 players that helped qualify the team into the National Elite Two, nine have been maintained and several others, very experienced elite; one and two players have been brought in.

They include Elvis Lesih, Hyacinth Kenyi and Djimo Anorle all from Ngoketunjia FC, Dogmo Tonfack (AS Menoua), Rooney Eva (Tunisia), Moaga Sammy (Ocean de la Nyonga – Libraville Gabon), Ngassam Jean Pierre (Eagle du Dschang), Yamedji Onana (Unisport of Bafang) and Mohamadou Montari (Panthere Security).

The team has also secured the services of coach Essomba Rene from Canon of Yaounde, who also narrowly missed Elite One qualification with Feutcheu FC of Bandjoun last season (emerged 4th) and one-time coach of Foudre de Akonolinga, Tonnerre Yaounde and Aigle de Dschang.

The president ended by calling on supporters of PWD Bamenda to support the team by regularly paying their gate fees, purchase supporters cards and be part of the supporters club. He, however, cautioned them on too much optimism, saying the team is now at a higher level and results may not always go as plan.

PWD will kick start the championship with a home game on Wednesday, February 3, 2015, against Dynamic of Buea. Elsewhere in the Elite one championship, Yong Sport Academy beat Lion Blesse of Foutuni 1-0 on Sunday.